Tabulating device



'r. H. TOEPPEN TABULATING DEVICE Sept. 1, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1" Filed July 2. 1957 INVENTOR. THURSTON H. TOEPPEN ATTORNEY T. H. TOEPPEN TABULATING DEVICE Sept; 1, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 2, 1957 United States Patent 2,902,137 ,TABULATIING DEVICE Thurston H. Toeppen, Lexington, Ky., assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application July 2,1957, Serial No. 669,537

7 Claims. (21. 197-177 This invention relates to a tabulating device for typewriters and like machines and more particularly to an automatic tabulating device.

Tabulating devices are generally of two types, the first type having the tab (tabulating) stops preset by the operator for stopping the carriage in a predetermined location whereas the second type does not require presetting of the stops but, in response to the sensing of indicia, for example, on the form being typed, a tab stop is set and then operates to stop the carriage according to the position of the sensed indicia. A third variation is one where equally spaced tab stops are preset and, after a tab movement of .the carriage is initiated, indicia associated with the moving carriage are sensed to actuate a tab check lever to engage the tab stop then adjacent the tab check lever.

The present device is of the third class described above, and includes the preset stops, indicia to be sensed on the typing form carried by the carriage, a sensing finger movable to a sensing position for sensing the indicia and circuit means operable in response to the sensing of indicia for actuating a tab check lever for engagement with one of the preset tab stops for positioning the carriage in accordance with the location of the indicia sensed.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved tabulating device.

-A further object of this invention is to provide an improved electronic tabulating device.

. Another objectof this invention is to provide a tabulating device operable with equally spaced tab stops.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved tabulating device operable in response to indicia on the carriage or on a form carried by the carriage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tabulating device having a sensing finger which is movable to a rest position whennot actually sensing for carriage positioning indicia whereby an unobstructed view of the print line is obtained.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tabulating device having a sensing finger normally out of contact with the platen to facilitate insertion of forms and movable to an operative position for sensing the forms. 1

*Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typewriter showing the location and the rest position of a sensing device.

'Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of the tab actuating mechanism of a typewriter.

'Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view from the left rear corner of a typewriter showing the tabulating device.

Fig. 4 is apartial showing of a tab rack illustrating a method of setting predetermined tab stops.

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary view of a tab rack and tab check lever.

Fig. 5 is a partial view taken along the line 5-5 in Fi 3.

i ig. 6 is a section taken along the line 66 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a wiring schematic of the circuits controlled by the electronic tab drive.

This device is shown and described herein as adapted for controlling the tabulating (tab) mechanism of a typewriter of the type illustrated in the copending application, Serial Number 555,529 filed December 27, 1955 on behalf of Thurston H. Toeppen, now Patent No. 2,818,961.

The device described therein is an electrically controlled stop for a tabulating mechanism wherein the carriage 1s released for tabulation flight by conventional mechanism but is stopped in response to a signal generated by sensing a conductive mark on the page being printed. The generated signal triggers a magnet which acts through linkages to efiect the usual stopping of the carriage.

Referring to Fig. 2, a key lever 10 is pivotally supported at a point 12 for rocking action into and out of an actuating position. The key lever 10 is connected via a link 14 to a cam assembly 16 which in turn, is pivotally supported at a fulcrum 18. The cam assembly is provided with a cam 20 which is selectively engageable with a continuously rotating power roll 22. More specifically, the link 14 rocks a trip lever 24 about a fulcrum 26 to release the cam 20 into engagement with the power roll 22 thereby causing the cam to make a half revolution. The half revolution of the cam rocks the cam assembly 16 clockwise about its pivot 18 to exert a pull in the direction of the arrow on a link 28 which is connected to a crank arm 30. The latter is pivotally supported on the carriage frame by means of a stud 32 and as a result of the pull on link 28, the upper end of the crank arm 30 acts on a tab lever 34 to pull it forward.

With reference now to Fig. 3, the tab lever 34 is pivotally supported for rocking movement about a stud 36. The tab lever 34 carries. a tab check lever 38 which is pivotally supported at one end by a stud 40 carried by the tab lever 34, and is urged outwardly, to he basically parallel to the tab lever, by a spring 43 which is supported about a stud 42 carried by the tab lever. The tab check lever 38 is slidable on studs 40 and 42 and further it can be moved clockwise about the stud 40 against the compression of the spring 43.

In conventional operation, the tab check lever 38 remains parallel to the tab lever 34, and when the latter is moved to an operative position, a nose 44 on the tab check lever is positioned to engage a set tab stop 46, Fig. 4a, carried by a conventional tab rack 48. The nose 44 of tab check lever engages a tab stop, thereby stopping the carriage in the desired posit-ion.

The tab mechanism is further provided with a rebound check lever 50, Fig. 3, which is pivotally supported about a stud 52 carried by the carriage frame. The tab check lever 38 in the operative position, Fig. 4a, is engageable with a tab stop 46 in a manner wherein an inclined surface 54 of the rebound check lever 50 will first engage one of the stops 46 causing the rebound check lever 50 to be rocked counterclockwise about its stud 52. After the nose 44 of the check lever engages a tab stop, however, and is moved to the right on the tab lever 34, a notch 56 of the rebound check lever 52 will snap back over the stop 46 to prevent a rebound of the carriage. Then, when the carriage comes to rest, the rebound lever and tab lever are restored to their normal positions as described in the cited application. The tab lever 34 is moved to its active position in response to the depression of the tab key lever, 10, but the tab check lever 38 and the rebound check lever 50 are held out of engagement with the tab stops 46 until 3 a predetermined signal has been received. The mechanism for accomplishing this result is shown in Fig. 3.

The tab check lever 38 is provided with an integral extension 58 which is engageable with a latch blade 60. The rebound check lever 50 is equipped with a pin 62 and a pin 64 which are engageable respectively with a lower portion of the latch blade 60 and with a flat spring 66 fixed on the tab lever 34. The latch blade 60 is pivotany mounted on a pin 68 carried on a lever 70 which is biased clockwise by a spring 72. If the blade'60 is removed from the path of the extension 58 and the pin 62, then the tab check lever spring 43 on stud 42 and the tab lever spring 66 will cooperate to push the tab check lever 38 and rebound check lever 50 into the path of the tab stops 46.

It is apparent then, that the operating principle of this invention hinges upon the timely actuation of the latch blade 60, which, in turn, is controlled by the following mechanism. It is apparent that any movement of the lever 70 to the right as viewed in Fig. 3, will rock the trip latch 60 counterclockwise (to a tripping position) to disengage it from the pin 62 of the rebound check lever 50 and from the extension 58 of the tab check lever 38, permitting the two pieces, 38 and 50, to move into the path of the tab stops 46.

In order to control the rocking of the lever 70 to the tripping position, a link 74 is interconnected between the lever 70 and an armature 76 of a magnet 78. Normally, the lever 70 is held to a clockwise limit by means of the spring 72 thereby assuring that the latch blade 60 will be engageable with the associated latch parts of the check lever and rebound check lever.

With the mechanism shown, it is apparent that, upon the energization of magnet 78, the armature 76 will be attracted to it and, acting via link 74, will rock lever 70 and thereby remove the latch blade 60 from the path of the rebound check lever pin 62 and the tab check lever extension 58 permitting them to move to their active positions.

It should be mentioned here that prior to using this tab device, every third tab stop 46 on the tab rack 48 is moved to its operative position (see Fig. 4a). It then becomes necessary, once a tab run has been started for the tab check lever 38 to be moved only the last frac' tion of an inch in order to engage a tab stop 46. It will be understood that other spacings, for example, every second or every fourth tab stop, may be used.

Every third tab stop may conveniently be set up by a device illustrated in Fig. 4. Every third tab stop 46 is the usual type pivoted on a rod 80. The other tab stops are special and contain a groove 84. A cam member 86 is mounted on a shaft 88 which is rotatable, for example by depression of a key (not shown). When the cam 86 is actuated and the carriage is moved past the cam, the usual tab stops 46 are rotated, by the cam member 86, to their set position whereas the grooves in the special tab stops'permit them to remain in their unset position.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3 and a sensing device, generally designated 110, is mounted by a bolt 112 on a finger 114 formed on the usual front rail dust cover 116. The finger 1 14 normally mounts a right hand line gauge card holder srnular to the left hand line gauge cardholder 11-8 which is mounted on a finger 120 similar to the finger 114. The sensing device 110 comprises a contact member 122 carrying spring contacts 124 and 125 having conducting leads 126 and 128 respectively. The contact member 122 s rigidlyfixed tov the finger 114, whereas a sensing mem- 'be r 130 is pivotally mounted on the same bolt 112. The member 130 is movable by a sensing member link 132, pivotally connected by a pin 133, for movement from the full line position of Fig. 5 to the dotted line positions 130a. Hereinafter a suflix a designates the active positions of various elements. The sensing finger 130 carries contact buttons 134 and 136. The button 134 is connected to two wires 138 and the button 136 is connected to two wires 140. The wires 138 and 140 extend fi'om a recess 142 at the rear side of the member and the contacts 134 and 136, through an opening 144 to a recess 146 in the front side of the member 130. The wires 138 and extend approximately one thirty-second ,5 of an inch through holes 147 in the member 130 to contact a form 148 on the usual typewriter platent 149, Fig. 6. As shown in Fig. 1, the recess 146 may be covered by a thin cover 150 to conceal and protect the wires 138 and 140. The member 130 has formed on the rear side thereof a straight flange 152 cooperating with the horizontal top surface of the finger 114 for limiting the rest position of the member 130, and a straight flange 154 cooperating with horizontal top surface of the finger 114 for limiting the actuated position of the member 130. The surfaces 152 and 154 are shown in the actuated position of the member 130 and are designated 152a and 154a. The pin 133, in the actuated position of the link 132,is designated 133a. Similarly, the contact buttons 134 and 136, in the actuated position of the member 130, are designated 134a and 136a.

Operation When the key lever 10 is depressed, as described hereinbefore, thereby actuating the cam assembly 16 to exert a pull on the lever 30 through the link 28, the lever 30 pivots the tab lever 34 causing the lever 34 to pivot an operating lever clockwise about its pivot point 162. The operating lever 160 is connected with the tab lever 34 by'means of a notch 164. Actuation of the tab lever 34 cooks the tab check lever 38 and the rebound check lever 50 in the manner described hereinbefore. The clockwise motion of the operating lever 160 moves a link 16.6 downwardly thereby permitting a bell crank spring 167 to pivot a bell crank 168 about a pivot point 170 where the crank is mounted on the machine. Counterclockwise motion of the crank 168 pushes the sensing member link 132 to the left (Fig. 3) and moves the sensing member 130 from the rest position (Figs. 1, 3, and 5) to the actuated position (dotted outline Fig. 5).

Asathe sensing member 130 swings to the actuated position, the contact buttons 134 and 136 contact the contact springs 124 and 125 and, at the same time, the line of holes 147 with the wires 138 and 140 extending therethrough, assumes the vertical position in Fig. 5 where the holes are designated 147a. The wires 138 and 140 make contact with the form 148, as shown in Fig. 6. Also, as the operating lever 160 pivots clockwise, an extension 160a operates a contact blade 172 to .close contacts 174 which are mounted on the machine.

When the'cycle of the cam assembly 16 is completed, the tab lever 34 and the operating lever 160 are restored to their rest positions by respective springs 176 and 178.

Forms The forms to be used in conjunction with this device must be designed to fit into the preset stop sequence. This means that the space between conductive lines 148a on the form 148, Fig. I, must be equivalent to, or multiples of, the space between the'preset tab stops. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the width of this space is three times the pitch of the individual tab stops: or any multiple'ofthat figure. The lines 148a may be printed with .electricall-y conductive ink or by any other suitable method.

Circuit Referring to Fig. 7, the circuit operated by the various contacts is illustrated in schematic form and includes the contacts 1241'34, 125-436 and 174; the magnet 78, the sensing wires 13.8 and 140 and a type 2D21I thyratron designated 180.

A suitable power supply may include a source of alternating current 182,, a transformer 184-, an- On-Otf switch 186, and suitable rectifying means including diodes 188 and 190, capacitors 192 and 194 and a voltage divider network including resistors 196, 198 and 200. The component values are so arranged as to produce plus 72 volts (+72 v.) at a point 202; plus 12 volts (+12 v.) at a point 204; zero volts (0 v.) at a point 206; and minus 4 volts (-4 v.) at a point 208.

The thyratron 180 is normally non-conducting. When the tab key lever is depressed, the tab lever 34 is actuated and the tab check lever 38 is latched as described hereinbefore; the operating lever contacts 174 close, completing the anode circuit of the thyratron 180. The thyratron is prevented from firing at that time due to the minus 4 volt potential at the point 208 which is impressed, through two series connected resistors 210 and 212 on the first grid of the tube. The second grid and the cathode are tied to the zero volt point 206.

At the same time the contacts 174 are being closed, the sensing member 130 is raised to its actuated position thereby closing the contacts 124-134 and 125136. As a conductive line 148a passes under the sensing wires 138 and 140, it completes a circuit from the plus 12 volt potential at the point 204 through the line 126, contacts 124134, sensing wires 138, the conductive line 148a, sensing wires 140, contacts 125-126 and the line 128, and changes the potential on the first grid to a positive potential with respect to the cathode. The thyratron 180 conducts and energizes the magnet 78 in the plate circuit thereby releasing the tab check lever 38 and the rebound check lever 50 to engage a tab stop 46. The

operating lever 160 is restored by the spring 178, opening the contacts 174 and restoring the circuit to normal.

As the member 130 rises, it comes to a point where the sensing wires 138 and 140 can make contact if a conductive line is present. However, it is not desirable to permit contact so soon, since it might result in premature release of the tab check lever 38 and selection of a tab stop located ahead of the one desired. Consequently, the contacts 124134 and 125136 are provided which control the exact point at which the wires 138140 are connected to the grid circuit of the thyratron 180. As the member 130 continues to rise, it crosses two typing spaces within which it is desirable to make contact if a conductive line 148a is present. If this sweeppickupwere not provided, the typist could not type as closely to the end of a tab field as with a conventional tab mechanism, and the mechanism would not be able to detect a very short field at all. As here constructed, this device can tabulate a minimum distance of two tab stops, which is comparable to the conventional tab mechanisms. This means that the operator may type to Within two spaces of the next tab stop and the tab mechanism is still effective to select that next stop.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as ap plied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a business machine having a movable carriage, means for releasing said carriage for power driven movement, a plurality of stop members carried by said carriage, means operable for engagement selectively with said. stop members for stopping said carriage, and means operable in response to the sensing of a predetermined condition on said movable carriage for operating said engageable means, said last mentioned means including a sensing means mounted adjacent said carriage and movable from an inoperative position to an operative position wherein it senses said predetermined condition.

2. In a business machine having a movable carriage adapted for holding a print page, a tabulating mechanism for releasing said carriage for power driven movement, a tab check lever in said tabulating mechanism, means urging said tab check lever normally into an operative position, a plurality of tab stops selectively engageable with said tab check lever when the latter is in its operative position for stopping said carriage, a device for restraining said tab check lever from engagement with said tab stops, means operable for disabling said restraining device, sensing means mounted adjacent said carriage and movable from an inoperative position to an operative position wherein it senses indicia on said print page, and circuit means operative in response to the sensing of said indicia for operating said disabling means.

3. In a business machine having a movable carriage, a tabulating mechanism for releasing said carriage for power driven movement, a tab check lever in said tabulating mechanism, spring biased means urging said tab check lever normally into an operative position, a plurality of tab stops selectively engageable with said tab check lever when the latter is in its operative position, a device for selectively restraining said tab check lever from engagement with said tab stops comprising a latch blade, means pivotally mounting the same for movement from a blocking position wherein it will block movement of said tab check lever into an operative position to a clear position wherein said tab check lever may be moved into its operative position by its spring biased means, sensing means movable from an inoperative position to an operative position wherein it will complete a circuit in response to the detection of a predetermined condition on said movable carriage, and means responsive to the completion of said circuit for positioning said latch blade in its clear position.

4. In a business machine having a movable carriage adapted for holding a print page, a tabulating mechanism for releasing said carriage for power driven movement, a tab check lever in said tabulating mechanism, means urging said tab check lever normally into an operative position, a plurality of tab stops selectively engageable with said tab check lever when the latter is in its operative position for stopping said carriage, a device for selectively restraining said tab check lever from engagement with said tab stops, means operable for disabling said restraining device, sensing means mounted adjacent said carriage and movable from an inoperative position to an operative position wherein it senses indicia on said print page, and circuit means operative in response to the sensing of said indicia for operating said disabling means.

5. In a business machine having a movable carriage, a tabulating mechanism for releasing said carriage for power driven movement, a tab check lever in said tabulating mechanism, spring biased means urging said tab check lever normally into an operative position, a plurality of tab stops selectively engageable with said tab check lever when the latter is in its operative position, sensing means for emitting an impulse in response to the detection of a predetermined condition on said movable carriage, said sensing means being movable from an inoperative position to an operative position, a device for selectively restraining said tab check lever from engagement with said tab stops comprising means blocking the operation of said tab check biasing means, and means responsive to an impulse from said sensing means for disabling said blocking means.

6. In a business machine having a movable carriage, a tabulating mechanism for releasing said carriage for power driven movement, a tab check lever in said tabulating mechanism, spring biased means urging said tab check lever normally into an operative position, a plurality of tab stops selectively engageable with said tab check lever when the latter is in its operative position, a device for selectively restraining said tab check lever from engagement with said tab stops comprising a latch blade, means pivotally mounting the same for movement from a blocking position wherein it will block movement of said tab check lever into an operative position to a clear position wherein said .tab check lever may be moved into its operative position by its spring biased means, a crank arm for pivoting said latch blade, sensing means movable from an inoperative position to an operative position wherein it will complete a circuit in response to the detection of a predetermined condition on said movable carriage, clectro-mechanical means connected to said crank arm, and means responsive to the completion of said cirsuit for operating said electromechanical means to pivot said latch blade to clear position.

7. In a business machine having a movable carriage adapted for holding a print page, a tabulating mechanism operable for releasing said carriage for power driven movement, a tab check lever in said tabulating mechanism, spring biased means urging said tab check lever normally into an operative position, a plurality of tab stops selectively engageable with said tab check lever when the latter is in its operative position for stopping said carriage, a device for restraining said tab check lever from engagement with said tab stops, means operable ior disabling said restraining device, sensing means comprising a fixed contact member, a movable contact memb r having sensing brushes engageable with said print page on said carriage and adapted for sensing conductive marks on said page for completing acircuit between .said brushes, said movable member being movable from an inoperative position to an operative position wherein it engages said Fred contact member for completing a circuit therebetween, and means operable when said circuit is completed through said brushes and a said conductive mark vand through said fixed and said movable contact members for operating said disabling means. i

No references cited. 

